Islamic banking continues to be the largest segment of the IFSI, constituting 70.21% of the total global IFSI assets in 2023, while Sukuk outstanding and Islamic funds collectively represented 29.08%, and the Islamic insurance segment represented 0.71%. The regional distribution of global Islamic finance assets reveals a pronounced concentration in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which accounts for 52.50%.
The IFSB’s Islamic Financial Services Industry (IFSI) Stability Report 2023 presents an assessment of the key vulnerabilities, resilience, and future outlook of the global IFSI in general and in the IFSB member jurisdictions in particular across three key segments: Islamic banking, Islamic capital market and Takaful.
Islamic banking is growing very fast, especially after the global financial crisis in 2008. There is need for more awareness and regulatory support to promote Islamic banking so as to comply with constitution of Pakistan, which clearly urged for eliminating Riba as soon as possible.
The two most important problems identified in a post-financial crisis look back are perverse incentives and de-linking of financial sector growth and activities with the real sector of the economy. Islamic finance principles by basing all financial products with real assets fill the gap and this feature alone is a very important risk management tool inbuilt into the system.
From the risk and profitability perspective, Islamic modes of financing keep the Islamic financial system liquid and less prone to risk due to asset backing. Often, the investors with bank (the deposit holders) are risk averse and want consistent returns. But, small savers do not have enough funds to finance big volume projects directly. But, using investors’ pool of funds to provide financing, the investors are able to share in benefit of such economic activities.
Islamic Economics Project 